San Antonio - The Tiger baseball team split a pair of games on opening day in the Houston Wheeler Memorial Tournament, defeating Schreiner, but falling to Birmingham Southern.

Trinity (1-1) held on for a 9-8 win in the opening game, scoring on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth to beat Schreiner.  Birmingham Southern led the whole way in game two, but the four-run rally by the Tigers in the ninth fell just short in a 10-9 loss.

Mike Panozzo (1-0) picked up the win in the opening game, giving up just one hit in the final inning.  Schreiner's ninth-inning run was charged to Michael Bentz, who allowed just one earned run on two hits in four innings of relief.

Kevin Francke drove in the game-winning run on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly, which was the third RBI of the game for the Tiger third-baseman. 

Kyle Felix cracked a pair of hits in the opening game - including a double - and Dom Robusto drove home two runs.  Nick Pappas and Jonathan Hall each scored twice in the win over Schreiner.

Against Birmingham Southern, Trinity committed seven errors that led to nine unearned runs out of 10 total for the visiting Panthers. 

Ryan Lucero (0-1) gave up six unearned runs on eight hits in the loss, giving up four walks but striking out six batters.

During a wild ninth inning, Trinity scored four runs on a pair of hits - highlighted by John Paillet's two-run single that made it 10-9.  Kevin Clements also drove home two runs in the inning.

Jonathan Hall lined out to first base to end the game, leaving the potential tying run at third base.

Dylan Early and Kevin Jackson had two hits each to lead the team, and Jackson also stole two bases.  Felix drew two walks and scored twice, while Christian Muscarello also scored a pair of runs.

Trinity and Birmingham Southern finish off the tournament tomorrow, playing a single game at noon.